Convertible cup dispensing mechanism



July 26, 1960 H. CAREW CONVERTIBLE CUP DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed Sept. l, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 `Fuly 26, 1960 Filed Sept. l, 1955 H. CAREW CONVERTIBLE CUP DISPENSING MECHANISM '.5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 26, 1960 H. CARI-:w

CONVERTIBLE CUP DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed sept. 1, 1955 3 Sheets-Shee'cl 3 aL/@Nl States Patent Oce Patented July 26, 1960 coNvnnrrnin CUP nisrnNslNG rmcHANrsM Herman Carew, Easton, Pa., assigner, by mesne assignments, to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., l a'corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 1, 1955, Ser. No. 532,046

4 Claims. (Cl. 221-222) 'This invention relates to improvements in convertible cupdispensing mechanism, the invention being highly desirable for the automatic dispensing of paper cups in dispensers of the type that also ill the dispensed cup with a liquid, such as a soft drink, coffee, or the like, although the invention will have other uses and purposes such as the automatic dispensing of paper cups where they are lled for later delivery to consumers, all as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the past, considerable difficulty has been experienced with machines for the automatic dispensing of a paper cup and then the filling of that paper cup with a liquid. While such difficulty is -aggravating in cases where the liquid is being packaged in the cup at a manufacturing plant for future delivery to the retailer, it is considerably more aggravating where the machine is coin operated and the consumer has deposited the coin with the hope of receiving a soft drink for immediate consumption, such, for example, as a soft drink dispensing machine in the lobby of a motion picture theatre. Obviously, a serious complaint will result when a customer deposits a coin for a soft drink, sees the paper cup arrive too late or not at all, and a portion or all of his sof-t drink passing down the drain while he Ihelplessly observes `the entire procedure. Dispensing machines of that character heretofore, at least occasionally, failed to deposit a cup at the proper time to receive the full predetermined quantity of soft drink. In other cases, mischievous children or vandals endeavored to remove one or more cups from the machine for the purpose of watching the next aggravated customer fail to acquire a soft drink for his deposited coin. In some cases several cups were stolen from the machine for subsequent usage elsewhere.

Perhaps even a more serious disadvantage with combination cup and liquid dispensing machines of the character heretofore known resided in the fact that should one size of cup prove unsatisfactory, it was impossible to alter the machine to dispense a different size cup or container, and an entire new machine would have to be purchased for that purpose. For example, if the operator of a small candy shop or delicatessen store installed a soft drink dispensing machine in which drinks of one size were dispensed, say for ten cents, and the machine did not prove successful, it could not be altered to dispense a five cent drink or the like. It has been established that in some locations ten cent drinks would sell very Well, whereas in other locations ten cent drinks will not sell in any satisfactory volume, but five cent drinks, for example, would outsell ten cent drinks four to one, or in some other multiple, making it worthwhile to utilize the five cent drinks. But -in order to change over, the proprietor of that small store would have to install a completenew dispensing machine. l Y -Y With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide cup dispensing mechanism for use in a machine ofthe character above discussed, which dispensing mechanism operates in such a manner that the cup to be. dispensed is immediately dropped upon the start of the operation, and the operation continues by dispensing the next succeeding cup into position for immediate delivery.

Another object of the invention is the provision of cup dispensing mechanism so constructed that the cup to be dispensed rests on at lands engaging the cup underneath the rim bead as well as against the side wall of the cup, rendering an attempt to remove a cup unwarrantedly substantially impossible.

Still another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a cup dispensing mechanism capable of being readily and easily altered to dispense cups of different sizes, so that the machine may be changed to dispense a soft drink of a different size whenever desired, and it is not necessary to substitute an entirely dilferent machine.

It is also an object of this invention to provide dispensing mechanism for paper cups and the like which operates in less time lthan heretofore found necessary, and which immediately `drops a cup upon the start of a dispensing operation.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of paper cup dispensing mechanism which is of less weight than heretofore found necessary, which ernbodies no bushings, but merely linvolves steel plates and die castings, wherefore the mechanism is far more economical than heretofore developed.

Still a further object of the invention resides in the provision of a new and novel dispensing Worm for cup dispensing mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cup dispensing worm'foruse in dispensing mechanism of the character herein set forth, wherein each worm is an individual die casting including not only the dispensing worm, but the end journal pins, and the'v drive pinion.

Still another feature of the instant invention resides in the provision of paper cup dispensing mechanism wherein the mechanism is constructed for a plurality of positions for the actual dispensing elements, and in order to change from onesize cup to another it is simply necessary to move the dispensing elements from one position to another, and it is only necessary to substitute one part for the part already in the machine, the substituted par-t being of a slightly different size.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will Ibecome apparent from the following disclosures, taken in `conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a top plan view of dispensing mechanism embodying principles of the instant invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the structure of Fig. l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken from the right hand of Fig. 1, illustrating the dispensing mechanism equipped with cup or container chutes;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the action of one of the individual dispensing elem-ents upon a paper cup, this iigure being greatly enlarged;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the action of a single dispensing unit as it operates on cups yfrom -a stack of cups;

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of an individual dispensing element; and

-Figure 7 is a side elevational view of one of the individual dispensing elements.

As shown on the drawings:

In the illustrated embodiment of the instant invention, the structure is not shown associated with a complete dispensing unit, nor is` the structure shown in any for-rn of housing, since the instant invention is centered mainly in the dispensing mechanism per se, regardless of what character of machine itk may ultimately be mounted in.

With reference now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that the illustrated embodiment of the instant invention includes a frame structure comprising a pair of spaced metal plates 1 and 2 which are maintained in proper spaced relationship by means of suitable bolt and sleeve spacer assemblies 3 preferably disposed at the corner portions of the plates as clearly seen in Fig. l. The actual dispensing mechanism is disposed between the plates 1 and 2, while the motor or drive mechanism, which may be any suitable form of low horse power electric motor indicated at 4, is preferably suspended from the lower plate by any suitable suspension means such as bolt and sleeve assemblies generally indicated by numeral 5.

As seen best in Figs. 3 and 5, a magazine 6 is mounted in any suitable manner on the plate 1 over an aperture 7 in that plate. This magazine is to contain a stack of nested paper cups 8, illustrated in Fig. 5, and these cups are dispensed one at a time from the magazine by means of the dispensing mechanism now about to be described It will be noted from the showing in `Fig. that each of the cups is preferably provided with an outwardly rolled rim bead around the mouth of the cup, and the dispensing means acts upon those rim beads in order to dispense the cups one at a time.

The dispensing mechanism includes a set of rotary dispensing members 9 seen best in their proper position in Fig. l, and in the illustrated instance there are eight of these individual dispensing members, all of which operate in unison. The greater the number of dispensing members or worms 9, the firmer the hold upon a paper cup prior to the dropping of the cup.

With reference now to lFig. 7, it will be noted that each one of the dispensing members 9 is preferably in the form of a single die casting. The lmember includes an upper projecting journal 10, and a lower projecting Ajournal 11. Immediately above the lower journal 1i1 -is an integral pinion 1:2, and between the pinion 12 and the `upper journal 1ta is a worm formation for loosely engaging the rim bead of a oup 8 and forcing Vthat cup downwardly while retaining the next succeeding cup in elevated position. The worm formation has a ilat top face as indicated at 1.3 extending substantially 'half way around the dispensing element. At the starting point, there is a substantially knife edge 14 which engages over the rim bead of a cup and enters lthat rimbead loosely into the worm groove 15 of the element. The cup just above the one being acted upon has its rim bead resting upon the flat top surface l13 so that that cup is maintained in elevated position `until the ensuing operation. As the dispensing element rotates, and it rotates counterclockwise as Yviewed in Figs. 4 and 7, the rim bead of the cup must follow the Worm groove 1S and descend until it rests upon a flat projecting land `16. As seen best in Figs. 4 and 6, this Vland 16 has a curvate outer edge 17 which is complemental to the circumference of a paper cup ,just below the rim bead, and the dispensing elements are so sized that the curvate edge 17 of the at land 116 actually makes contact with the double contact with a cup by each of the dispensing elements 9. lIn fact, the engagement of the dispensing elements with the cup is so firm, that in order to release the c-up and permit it to drop, each dispensing element slightly dents the side wall of the cup as it passes by, and this slight denting or temportary depressing of the cup wall would occur by the left hand corner of the flat land 16 as the structure is viewedin Fig. 4.

The drive mechanism for operating the dispensing elements includes an upstanding shaft 18 from the motor 4 suitably journaled in the plates 1 and 2, and this shaft carries a pinion 19 thereon a little above the plate 2. This pinion meshes with an idler drive gear 20 carried on a shaft 21 having a journal pin 22 at each end thereof for respective engagement in apertures in the plates 1 and 2. The gear 20 meshes with and drives a ring gear 23, which has a hollow depending portion 24 extending in centered relation through an opening or aperture 25 in the lower plate 2 (Figs. l and 5 and it is through that portion 24 of the ring gear that each paper cup is ultimately dispensed `on the axis of .the opening 25. The ring gear may be supported in any suitable manner, such as by an annular shoulder 26 immediately thereunder riding the margin of the plate 2 around the aperture 25. The ring gear 23, as seen clearly from the showing in Fig. 5, is in mesh with the pinion 12 on each of the dispensing elements 9, and in turn drives those dispensing elements in unison. As seen in Figures r3 and 5, the pinions 12 are supported above the plate 2 sutliciently to clear the shoulder 26.

Now from t-he showing in Figs. l and 2, it will be especially noted that there are three separate series of apertures 27, 28, and 29, in each of the plates 1 and 2 to accommodate the journals 10 and 11 of the dispensing elements 9. As seen in Fig. 1, the journals 10 `and 11 of the dispensing worms 9 occupy the circle of apertures 27 which is the one of least diameter. It will also be noted that there are three similar apertures in 'each of 1the plates 1 and 2, these being designated by numerals 30, 311 and 3-2 for the journals 22 of the drive gear 20. As seen in Fig. 1, the journals of that drive gear lare occupying the apertures 30 in each of the plates. In that location, the drive gear meshes With and drives the particular ring gear 23, and that ring gear meshes with the pinion .12 integrally carried by each dispensing -worm 9 and in turn drives these dispensing lworms in unison.

Y lIn operation, assuming that a stack of paper cups 8 are placed in the .magazine 6, the device is given one operation to start with. That rst operation causes the dispensing units 'to engage above the rimbead on the lowermost cup, put that rim bead into the worm groove 15, and during a single revolution, in the illustrated instance, that paper cup is transferred downwardly along the dispensing elements until the cup rests on all of .the ilat lands 16.. As stated above, the curvate edges 17 of these flat lands contact the -wall of the cup immediately below the rim bead, while the rim bead rests 4directly upon the lands. The cup in the stack next above the one so acted upon is maintained in elevated position by the flat |top 13 of the dispensing elements.

Now it -will be especially noted that with the cup {irmly held by all ofthe flat lands 16, itis virtually impossible to withdraw a cup uuwarrantedly from the dispenser. It

side wall of the cup immediately below the rim bead. f

would require a terrific effort on the part of a mischievous child or Vandal to pull that cup in such a manner as to entirely disrupt the rim bead and thus remove the mutilated cup from the dispensing mechanism.

Now all succeeding operations, until the entire stack of cups has been dispensed, results in the delivery of a single paper cup. In the succeeding operation, the dispensing worms 9 rotate only a small fraction of a revolution to discharge the cup resting upon the lands 16, As-V is evident from the showing in Fig. 4, the dispensing worms need only.:tu'rn .approximately 15 to V204 in order to discharge the cup resting upon the lands. Thus, at each dispensing operation a paper cup is immediately discharged almost at the very start of the operation, so that cup is bound to arrive in its desired location in time to receive the discharge of a predetermined quantity of soft drink or the like. Of course, contemporaneously with the .discharge of the lowermost cup each dispensing element engages the next cup and moves that cup downwardly until it rests upon the lands 16. Thus, in each dispensing operation what is actually accomplished is the substantially immediate dropping of a paper cup, and the lowering of the next paper cup to dispensing position to be immediately dropped -upon the ensuing operation.

Thus, it will be seen that with the instant dispensing mechanism, the unwarranted removal of a paper cup is substantially impossible, and upon each operation a paper cup is .dispensed in ample time to receive the full quantity of a soft drink or the like.

Now, should it prove that the particular size cup being used, and which is lled with a soft drink at a predetermined price, does not result in an adequate amount of sales of that particular soft drink, it may be desired to change the size of drink being dispensed and consequently change the amount paid for that drink. To accomplish that heretofore, it would be necessary to buy a complete new and expensive dispensing machine. However, with the instant invention, it is a simple expedient to temporarily separate the plates 1 and 2 by releasing the bolt and sleeve assemblies 3', transfer each of the dispensing worms to the next series of apertures 28, and transfer the drive gear 20 to the aperture 31 in each of the plates, thus providing a way of dispensing a paper cup of larger diameter. In making this change, it is necessary to substitute a larger size Iring gear for the ring gear 23, and it is contemplated that as many ring gears as .there are series of apertures for the dispensing worms will be provided with the machine. The changeover operation to dispense a larger size cup would require only a `few minutes even by .an unskilled mechanic.

Should it be desired to make a further change to a still larger cup, it is a simple expedient to move the dispensing -worms 9 so that they are seated in the series of apertures 29, and change the drive gear 20 to the aperture 32 in each of the plates 1 and 2, and again substitute a ring gear of larger size for the one then in use. t

For example, the rst series of apertures may require a ring gear having a total of 80 teeth, the second or next larger series of aperture may require a ring gear having a total of 86 teeth, while the outermost series of apertures might require a ring gear having a total of 88 teeth. ln any event, it is preferable that the ring gear result in causing a single revolution of each dispensing worm Ifor each complete dispensing operation.

It Will therefore be noted that it is a simple expedient for the user of the machine to alter the machine to dispense a larger Vor smaller size paper cup at any time the user desires. It will also be yespecially noted that the entire dispensing mechanism is simple in construction, easy and positive in operation, and very economical to manufacture, particularly since each dispensing worm is preferably in individual die casting, including not only the worm, the journal pins, but also the pinion. Little if any machining of parts is necessary, and the entire structure is quickly and easily assembled, -as well as being highly durable and positive in operation.

It will be understood that modiiications and variations may be eiected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. In dispensing mechanism for temporary containers, frame means having an opening therein through which containers having a rim bead may be successively dispensed from a stack of nested containers, an annular series of rotary dispensing worms carried by said name means adjacent said opening, the dispensing coniiguration on each said worm terminating at the bottom in a at' land yfor iinal engagement with a container under the rim bead, and each said land having a curvate ex- .posed edge contour substantially the same as the external circumference of the container whereby each land contacts the sidewall of the containerand the .underside oftherimbead.'

2,. In dispensing mechanism for temporary containers, frame means having an opening therein through which containers having a rim bead may be successively dispensed from a stack of nested containers, an annular series of rotatary dispensing worms ycarried by said frame means adjacent said opening, the dispensing configuration on each Worm starting with a flat top knife-edged portion gradually thickening on the underside into a circumscri'bing worm formation and terminating in a flat land at the bottom whereby after the initial operation each container .to be next dispensed is held free of the other containers by the flat lands for immediate discharge at the start of the next operation and the completion of that next operation moves the following container into position on said at lands, and each said at land having a denite width with a concave curvature on its edge to positively engage the wall of a container below the rim bead.

3. In dispensing mechanism for temporary containers, trame means having `an opening therein through which containers having a rim bead may be successively dispensed from la stack of nested containers, an annular series of rotary dispensing worms carried by said frame means adjacent said opening, the dispensing configuration on each Worm embodying a final bottom land having an exposed curvate edge complemental to the side wall of the cup for positive engagement with the cup on the side wall and on the underside of the rim bead.

4. In combination in cup Adispensing mechanism, a frame having .an opening therein through which cups may lbe successively dispensed from a stack of nested cups on the axis of the frame opening, said frame including upper and lower plates defining said frame opening, a removably interchangeable ring gear having immediately therebelow and integral therewith a shoulder riding the upper side of the margin of the lower plate about said opening and wit-h a hollow depending portion integral with said shoulder and said ring gear centered in said opening, with the ring gear being thereby supported rotatably about said frame opening for passage of the cups coaxially therethrough and through said depending portion, a plurality of dispensing worms journalled in said frame .between said plates adjacent to said trame opening and said ring gea-r and each having a pinion in mesh Iwith said ring gear for rotation of all of the worms in unison thereby, a drive gear journalled in said frame between said plates and meshing with the ring gear for rotating the ring gear about said frame opening, said plates having for each said worm a plurality of separate aligned sets of apertures for journalling said worm at different predetermineddistances from said trame opening and also having an equal number of complementary aligned apertures for 4journalling said drive gear whereby the iworms and the drive gear are repositionable, when said plates are separated, relative to said frame opening and relative to diierent predetermined sizes of ring gears for dispensing .cups of diiferent predetermined sizes on said axis, said pinions ybeing supported above the lower plate sufficiently to clear the ring gear shoulder,v

and a pinion iixedly journalled on said frame means and -with Which said drive gear is disposed to be in mesh when positioned in each of said complementary apertures so that the timing remains the same for each setting of the drive gear `and dispensing worms with each size of ring gear.

(References on following page) Reir'erences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Gist Iuly 4, 19716 Mias July 16, 19,18 Gilbert Feb. 17, 192,5 Wessman July 5, 1927 Wilson Nov.l 15, 1927 Madden Dec. 6, 1-932 Tansley Aug. 5, 1952 

